Will F1 Cars Ever Go Electric?

The future of the automobile industry is electric vehicles. In a world that finds itself in a constant battle against Global warming, the sustainability factor of these machines outweighs their cost. Even F1 aims to shift towards a net zero carbon impact by the year 2030.

Over the years, Formula 1 has made significant steps toward minimizing its impact on the environment. In 2014, the sport introduced advanced new hybrid engines. These new power units made use of kinetic and heat energy recovery systems to augment and increase the power output of the car while simultaneously increasing its efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

Yet, some might argue that going hybrid isn’t sufficient of a step on the behalf of the pinnacle of motorsport. So can fully electric cars be an alternate option for the sport to continue in the future?

Will F1 ever go the Formula E route and become fully electric?

The electric vehicle landscape is rapidly changing as technology continues to evolve, and over the coming years will only be a bigger picture. One of the biggest hurdles F1 faces is the exclusivity rights that Formula E has with the FIA for being the sole racing series featuring electrical power. Thus, until 2039, Formula E is safe from facing any competition from F1.

Aside from that, a lot of factors need to be checked before installing the battery pack on the car. The essence of the F1 car is its lightweight, which helps it find lap time. Furthermore, the battery capacity is also a point to ponder. The current batteries can not last an entire race distance while delivering the performance that an F1 car can produce, which is clocking speeds up to 180 miles an hour.

Current F1 boss, Stefano Domenicali opined on electrification of the sport by saying “We won’t, we need to stay hybrid. This is a definite decision we’ve taken, and this is also good for the automotive industry and the OEMs as it keeps our platform relevant for future road cars. We don’t have to take electrification as a world-religion.”

Moreover, present-day F1 engines are industry-leading and the ones setting the benchmark. The new regulations have had a massive push toward fuel efficiency in recent years. The 2020 Mercedes engine was over 50% thermally efficient, meaning that over half of the energy in the fuel was used to propel the car.

Comparing an F1 car with a normal road car that only reaches around 30% thermal efficiency helps understand the strides in efficiency in the sport. On top of that, the FIA pushed the bio-component ratio of the fuel by moving to an E10 fuel with the ultimate aim of using 100% sustainable fuel in about 8 years.

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Another point of distinction for the F1 machine is the Energy Recovery (ERS) system, which ensures the recovery of waste energy. The MGU-H component recovers heat energy from the turbocharger in an F1 car. Additionally, the MGU-K recovers waste kinetic energy from the braking system.

This focus on efficiency is an important part of the sport’s relevancy. The limitation on fuel creates a quest to make the energy from it go further and further, prompting breakthroughs that will benefit wider society.

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For the premier racing league to adapt to such changes, it either needs to compromise on car speeds or race format. However, this can lead to the sport losing its essence and potentially losing its factor of distinction from the rest of the motorsport series, especially formula E.

What is Formula-E?

Formula-E is a single-seater racing championship that, instead of having an internal combustion engine, features an electric battery as the power unit. The idea was conceived in 2011 by the former FIA president, Jean Todt, and the Spanish businessman, Alejandro Agag (present chairman). In 2020, the championship gained FIA-approved status and has been a popular feat in the motorsport world.

Racing with electric cars has a completely different set of rules and regulations. 11 teams from the grid with 2 cars and drivers representing their colors. The weekend format, qualifying format, and circuits are majorly different from F1. Notably, the ‘fan boost’ feature stands out, as it allows the fans to vote for their favorite driver, who receives an overtake boost over its rivals.

What is the future for Formula 1?

Presently, the goal is to introduce a second-generation hybrid power unit by 2025. It will take a step towards being carbon neutral and feature advanced sustainable fuels.

In 2026, the FIA will introduce a massive rule change in the sport. The cars will feature entirely new power units that will eliminate the MGU-H component.

Domenicali is excited about the future as he added “the 2025 power-unit will be hybrid and use 100 percent sustainable fuels, but we need to reduce the costs of the power-unit and platform so it is affordable and less complex. This opens up huge potential for the OEMs to use it in other applications on the road car side.”